Tirupati is a pilgrim’s paradise. Tucked near the southern end of Andhra Pradesh, the ancient city of Tirupati is a treasure trove of historical and religious architectures. Essentially a place of religious significance, the best places to visit in Tirupati offer treats galore for tourists with a keen interest in ancient Hindu temples and other places of worship.

As much as it’s a destination for pilgrims, Tirupati is also a city for a regular traveler who is eager to steep in the Hindu culture and learn more about it in its salad days. In addition to old temples and remnants of relics inside them, the place has plenty of parks and natural sites. There are also some stellar tourist places near Tirupati that are highly recommended for visitors.

Places to visit in Tirupati for all kinds of tourists

1. Temples to Visit

Among the tons of best places to visit in Tirupati are some spectacular temples that make the top sights of the city and the whole of Chittoor District. First up is the Tirumala Temple, which is a Tirupati temple that you would not want to miss. There are others as well. The list of Tirupati temple that you definitely want to cover during your trip would include Govindaraja Swami Temple, Tiruchanur, Srinivasa Mangapuram, Srikalahasti and Kanipakam. Tourists who are looking to visit the most sacred places in this old city shouldn’t miss Srivari Mettu, Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, Iskon, and Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple.

2. Sites of Heritage

Tirupati is not very high on heritage sites. Temples take up most of the city’s heritage stock. However, among the tourist places near Tirupati is Chandragiri. About 15 Kms from Tirupati, Chandragiri is a small historical town and one of the star Tirupati tourist places which used to be the seat of kings from the Yadavaraya dynasty that rules from 11th to 13the century.

3. Sightseeing Points

Silathoranam comes up a second time in the list of best places to visit in Tirupati for its natural beauty. Other than that, other Tirupati sightseeing points include Talakona Waterfall, Akasa Ganga, Chakra Teertham, Papa Vinasanam Dam, TumbhuruTeertham and Kalyani Dam.

4. Geological Site

This is one place among most recommended Tirupati places to visit you want to visit while in Tirupati if you take interest in geological marvels which is Silathoranam. Spread across a large area that comprises of gardens and bare rocks, the greatest attraction of this garden is a rock that hangs in the air. Formed by what geologists believe is natural erosion, this boulder formation defies all laws of physic in its bizarre placement. It ranks high among the most visited Tirupati tourist places.

5. Wildlife

There are plenty of natural parks in Tirupati that hosts a thick population of wildlife. For deer lovers, there is a Deer Park in Kandaleru City that provides sanctuary to a huge species of deer. Sri Venkateswara National Park is another nature park that has some great population of wild animals.

6. For the shoppers

The small town in Chandragiri is more than just a place of heritage. The Bazaar Street which is an alleyway in this historic town is lined with shops selling handicraft merchandises and other goods from cottage industries. One of the most visited tourist places in Tirupati and around Tirupati, it’s a great place to buy handmade stuff from pottery to souvenirs, handloom to home décor and such.

If you’re planning a trip to the holi city in Andhra, you can explore many places on a day-long tour.